Published on 11/28/2006
We humans experience microsleep whenever our body is pushed over the limit, and the signals often include burning eyes, frequently blinking eyes, and yawning. This is cool when you're safe at home, but for those on the road it could translate to an accident. To put things into perspective, adding a single second to the time an eye stays closed while blinking in a vehicle that is hurtling down the asphalt at 60mph will render the vehicle driverless for 88 feet. Mercedes-Benz is currently working on a few systems that help warn the driver of microsleep. These systems include monitoring the driving habits as well as detecting the blinking patterns of a driver. We won't know when these new systems will be introduced, but just remember to stay safe this holiday season by getting enough rest before setting out, and taking a power nap when you're exhausted.